Who needs the Mechanical Productivity Extension?

Anyone using layer groups, blocks, or external references to organize drawing data will benefit from the tools in this extension. Others may find enhanced block editing or command-line access useful for easier customization. This extension is geared to provide greater access to your data and to reduce the number of steps by combining common tasks.

What products does the Mechanical Productivity Extension run on?

The Mechanical Productivity Extension runs on AutoCAD® Mechanical 6 Power Pack and the Autodesk® Mechanical Desktop® 6 Power Pack component of Autodesk Inventor™ Series 5.

How do I apply layer group colors?

The redesigned Mechanical Layer Control dialog box makes applying a layer group color as easy as changing a single layer color.

Can I specify which layers take on a layer group color?

You define the layers that respect the layer group color. For example, you can specify that only the object line layers take on the layer group color, leaving the centerlines and annotation with the same colors they have in other layer groups.

Can I turn off the layer group colors when I need to?

Yes. When you apply colors to layer groups, the existing layer colors are saved. Then, using the layer group color toggle, you can restore all layers to their configured colors (when plotting, for example). When you're done, you can toggle the layer group colors back on.

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Can I access layer group colors from the command line?

Yes. In fact, all Mechanical Layer Control options are now available at the command line for easier scripting and customization.

Are layer group colors retained when my file is opened by someone without this extension installed?

Yes, the layer group colors remain, but they cannot be edited when your files are opened in a version of AutoCAD Mechanical or Autodesk Mechanical Desktop software that does not have the Mechanical Productivity Extension installed.

Can I edit multiple dimensions with text overrides at once?

Yes, the new AMCHECKDIM command allows you to cycle through all your overridden dimensions, editing those you want to change and passing over those you wish to leave unedited.

Does the extension alter existing commands?

The extension enhances three existing commands-Refedit, Amlayer, and Amoffset-but remains compatible with existing scripts and menu customization. Nothing has been removed or changed that may affect your existing customization.

Does this extension require a Service Pack?

Yes, the Mechanical Productivity Extension requires AutoCAD Mechanical 6 Service Pack 3 or Autodesk Mechanical Desktop 6 Service Pack 3.

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